London, Nov 7 : Anjem Choudary, a hate preacher, has created a furore in the UK after he urged British Muslims not to wear poppies.

Choudary, 41, is the right-hand man of exiled cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed.

He said that any Muslim wearing poppy, the symbol of respect in the UK, was betraying his religion and backing “British nationalism”.

Choudary’s statement came after news broke that poppy sales were down in Muslim dominated areas of the country.

A large number of Brits wear poppies in commemoration of the victims of all wars fought by British citizens, including Muslims.

“This is not something we should be supporting. We are not sanctioned to support poppies by the Sharia law,” The Daily Star quoted Choudhary as saying.

He added: “We’re talking about the Second World War and this doesn’t have anything to do with Muslims. Muslims are not allowed to participate in anything that is clearly British nationalism.”

However, other Muslims in Britain so not share the same opinion.

Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik, the Government’s first-ever Muslim minister, said: “As patron of the Royal British Legion in Dewsbury I’ll be selling poppies in the town centre this Saturday. I think it’s really important to remember the freedoms we enjoy come at a price and sometimes the ultimate price.

“The truth is that no matter what your background, we all must remember that people died for this country and the freedoms we hold dear and that is why I’m proud to wear my poppy.”

In the meantime, fury erupted after it was revealed that Muslim strongholds have become no-go zones for poppy sellers.

A lack of support was seen in certain areas in Leeds, Bradford, Dewsbury and Derby, where many shopkeepers have never even heard about poppies.

However, the English Democrats have urged Brits to “wear their poppies with pride” and claimed that the problem has its roots in multiculturalism. (ANI)